William B Smith
Partner at Abramson Smith & Waldsmith LLP
Top Rated Family Law Attorney with 50 years of experience
Insurance, Medical Malpractice, Car Accidents, Social Security, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Toxic Mold
19 Tehama Street, Suite A, San Francisco, CA 94105
About William B Smith
Practice Areas
- Insurance
- Medical Malpractice
- Car Accidents
- Social Security
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
- Toxic Mold
Education
- University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, CaliforniaDoctor of Jurisprudence
- Honors: Coordinator, National College of Advocacy, 1972
- Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1970B.A.
- Honors: <i>cum laude</i>
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma
- University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England, 1969Honors: Junior Year Abroad Program, University Scholar (1968-1969)
Classes and Seminars
- Speaker, Civility Matters, National Wildland Fire Conference, Hôtel del Coronado, San Diego, California, April 28, 2018
- Civility: When You Can't Stand the Son-of-a Gun on the Other Side, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California (ADC), 58th Annual Meeting, December 2017
- Faculty: Tort and Trial Practice Section, National Trial Academy (TIPs Program) at the National Judicial College at University of Nevada, Reno. One week intensive trial training for lawyers during March 25-30, 2017
- Panelist: What They Don't Teach in Law School About How Law Firms Really Work, Bar Association of San Francisco, March 2, 2017
- Lecture: State of the Art Expert Witness Visuals, Western Trial Lawyers Ski Seminar, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, February 2017
- Panelist, ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, California, August 9, 2016
- Panelist, ABOTA Civility Matters, Santa Rosa Bar Association, Santa Rosa, California, October 30, 2015
- Panelist, ABOTA Civlity Matters Program, Chapman University Law School, Orange, California, September 3, 2015
- Panelist, ABOTA, Civility Matters Program, Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, California, August 13, 2015
- April 2015, Civility Matters Program, Presenter, Law Firm: Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson, Ashmore LLP, Rapid City, South Dakota, presented at firm retreat at U.S. Grant Hotel, San Diego, California
- Instructor, Litigation Boot Camp, Bar Association of San Francisco, March 2015
- Lecturer, Videos: If A Photograph Is Worth a Thousand Words..., Western Trial Lawyers Association, Squaw Valley Ski Seminar, February 28, 2015
- Lecturer, Videos: If A Photograph Is Worth a Thousands Words . . ., San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Tahoe Ski Seminar, January 30, 2015, Incline Village, Nevada
- Panelist, ABOTA Civility Matter Program, Chapman University School of Law, September 4, 2014
- Panelist, ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, August 12, 2014,
- Lecturer, Taming the Digital Wild West, Western Trial Lawyers Association, Maui Convention, June 11, 2014
- ABOTA, Civility Matters Presentation, Arizona State Bar, Tucson, Arizona, April 24, 2014
- New Lawyer Ski Seminar: Lecture: Fall Cases: How to Take The Focus Off the Plaintiff and Win, Consumer Attorneys of California, Incline Village, Nevada, February 1, 2014
- ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Panelist, Chapman University Law School, Orange, California, January 30, 2014
- Maui Seminar, Panel: Waivers, Releases and Assumption of Risk in Sporting Injury Cases, Consumer Attorneys of California, December 2, 2013 - December 5, 2013
- Panelist, ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Pillsbury, Winthop, Shaw and Pittman LLP, San Francisco, California, May 2013
- ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Panelist, ASCDC Convention, The Biltmore, Los Angeles, California, March 1, 2013
- ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Panelist, University of California, Irvine School of Law, Irvine, California, April 4, 2013
- Panelist: The (de) Evolution of the Primary Assumption of Risk Doctrine in California: Nalwa v. Cedar Fair et. al, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Ski Seminar at Incline Village, Nevada., February 1, 2013
- ABOTA Civility Matters Program: Panelist, FDCC Annual Convention, The Biltmore, Scottsdale, Arizona., March 7, 2012
- Tahoe Ski Seminar, February 24, 2012: How to Handle Sports Cases: Releases and Primary Assumption of Risk, presentation with Anthony Label, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
- ABOTA Civility Matters: Panelist, March 23, 2012, Western States Bar Association Conference, The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Lecturer, Overcoming Releases and Assumption of Risk: An Updated View, Consumer Attorneys of California, Annual Ski Seminar at Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 8, 2011
- Panelist and Moderator, Civility Matters put on by ABOTA and JAMS at Murphy, Pearson and Bradley, San Francisco, California, March 23, 2011
- Lecturer, Strategies for Sports and Recreation Cases, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Roundtable Presentation, March 22, 2011
- Panelist and Moderator: Advanced Settlement Techniques, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, California, March 2010
- Presenter: Traumatic Brain Injury: The Invisible Injury, Consumer Attorneys of California, Ski Seminar at Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2010
- Civility Matters Panel, Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, San Francisco, California, January 2010
- Panelist, ABOTA/JAMS Civility Matters Program, Solano County Bar Association, Fairfield, California, October 28, 2010
- Panelist and moderator, Use of Graphics and Demonstrative Evidence at Trial, San Francisco Bar Association, Probate Section, San Francisco, California, October 5, 2010
- Panelist and Moderator, Civility Matters put on by ABOTA and JAMS, at Hanson Bridgett Law Firm, San Francisco, California, December 13, 2010
- Panelist, Civility Matters - Part 2, Principles of Civility, Integrity and Professionalism, Sonoma County Bar Association, Barristers Club, Santa Rosa, California, October 12, 2010
- Lecturer, Understanding and Preparing a Frontal Lobe Case for Trial, The California Brain Injury Association Annual Meeting, Silverado Country Club, Napa, California, November 5, 2010
- Panelist and Moderator, Civility Matters!, 2010 MCLE Spectacular , Contra Costa County Bar Association, November 19, 2010
- Panelist and Moderator, Civility Matters!, 51st Annual Meeting, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada (ADC), December 10, 2010
- Panelist and Moderator, Civility Matters, put on by ABOTA and JAMS, at Severson and Werson Law Firm, San Francisco, California, December 15, 2010
- Lecturer, Proving the Invisible Brain Injury, The Brain Injury Association Annual Meeting, Silverado Country Club, Napa, California, November 20, 2009
- Lecturer, The Unlevel Playing Field in Sports Premises Cases: Releases, Waivers and Assumption of Risk, Consumer Attorneys of California, Annual Ski Seminar at Beaver Creek Colorado, 2009
- The Latest Electronic Demonstrative Evidence and How to Present It, University of California, Hastings College of Law, Pretrial Practice Class, September 2009
- Panelist, Civility Matters: Strike Force Program Panel, Drinker Biddle Law Firm, San Francisco, California, November 18, 2009
- Speaker and Faculty Member, ABOTA Masters in Demonstrative Evidence Program, San Francisco, California, May 28, 2009
- Panelist, Ethics: Civility Matters!, (Also simulcast on the web statewide), The State Bar of California, Litigation Section, San Francisco, California, December 5, 2009
- Lecturer/Moderator, Are Your Jurors Awake? Persuading By Use of 21st Century Trial Technology, American College of Trial Lawyers, September 2008 Annual Meeting, Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Canada, September 27, 2008
- Lecturer, Courtroom Technology for the 21st Century, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2008 Regional Meeting at the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, California, April 5, 2008
- Lecturer, Civility Matters!, ABOTA, University of California, Hastings College of Law, October 29, 2008
- Lecturer The Unlevel Playing Field in Sports Premises Cases: Releases, Waivers and Assumption of Risk, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, November 13, 2007
- The Electronic Trial of a Catastrophically Injured Person (Spinal Cord Injury), Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Palo Alto, California, 2007
- Cross-examination of the Defendant in a Sexual Discrimination Case, Plaintiffs' Trial Team, American Board of Trial Advocates, Masters in Trial Program, San Francisco, California, 2007
- Lecturer, The Electronic Trial in Brain Damage Cases, The Brain Injury Association Annual Meeting, Silverado Country Club, Napa, California, November 16, 2007
- San Francisco Meeting, Lecturer: The School of Hard Knocks: Lessons Learned During Trial, Association of Defense Counsel (ADC), November 2, 2007
- Bridgeport Continuing Education, Program: Effective Use of Expert Testimony; Lecturer: "How to Effectively Cross Examine an Expert Witness", San Francisco, Ca., January 20, 2006
- Lecturer: The Electronic Trial, University of San Francisco Law School, Inns of Court, San Francisco, California, May 2006
- The Evidence Wheel Seminar, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Lecturer: Evidentiary Foundations, October 10, 2006
- The Ultimate Technological Trial, ABOTA, Masters in Trial, 2005
- Trial Advocacy Training for Public Interest Lawyers at University San Francisco Law School, America College of Trial Lawyers (trainer), 2005
- Direct Examination of a Neuro-Psychologist, Plaintiffs' Trial Team, American Board of Trial Advocates, Masters in Trial Program, San Francisco, California, 2004
- How to Use High Tech to Prove Your Case, Winning the Close Case with Technology, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Program, 2004
- Faculty, Annual Advocacy Skills Workshop, Stanford Law School, 2002 - Present
- The Best of Closing Arguments Program - Speaker, A Closing Argument for the Death of a Young Child, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2001
- Lorman Education Services - Speaker, Auto Insurance Law and Accident Litigation, 2001
- Deposition Program - Speaker, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2000
- Discovery Program - Speaker, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1999
- Taking the Bind Out of Binding Arbitration: Conducting the Arbitration Hearing - Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, Annual Convention, 1999
- How to Win Your Products Case with a Prompt and Thorough Investigation - Speaker, Consumer Atty of California, 33rd Annual Tahoe Convention, 1998
- Evidence: Be Creative, Be Careful & Always Be in Control - Mediator & Speaker, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1997
- War Stories: Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 35 Annual Convention, 1996
- Mock Direct and Cross-Examination of a Warnings Expert, San Francisco Bar Association, 1996
- Enforcing Depositions in the U.K., Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 31st Annual Convention, 1996
- Mock Mediation, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 30th Annual Tahoe Seminar, 1995
- Avoiding Legal Malpractice, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 1995
- Joint and Several Liability, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1993 - 1994
- Coping with Liens in Personal Injury Cases, Author, Moderator and Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1993
- Proposition 51 - Survival Techniques, Panelist, Joint CTLA/SFTLA/ACCTLA MCLE Program, 1993
- Finding and Managing the Winning Expert, Speaker, California Trial Lawyers Association, 32nd Annual Convention, 1993
- Arbitration Panelist, State Bar of California, Litigation Section MCLE Program, 1992
- Anatomy of a Civil Jury Trial, Lecturer, SFTLA, MCLE Program, 1992
- Handling Medical Malpractice Cases, Lecturer, SFTLA MCLE, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1991
- Discovery: Depositions, Panelist, SFTLA MCLE, 1991
- Preparing for Trial - The Last 100 Days, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1990
- Worker's Compensation Issues in Third Party Cases, Lecturer, Sonoma County Trial Lawyers Association, 1985 - 1986
- Assistant Professor of Law, Litigation/Evidence, Litigation Advocacy - Personal Injury, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1985 - Present
- Coping With Worker's Compensation Issues In Third Party Cases, Author, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1984
- Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases, author, moderator, panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1983
- Assistant Professor of Law, Trial Evidence Course, University of California, Hastings College of Law, 1982 - Present
- Accident Reconstruction Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1982
- Medical Proof in Personal Injury Litigation, Author, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1981
- Lecturer on Depositions, San Francisco Bar Association, Bridging the Gap Program, 1981
- Determining Damages in Personal Injury Actions, Panelist
- Gathering and Proving Medical Evidence in Personal Injury Cases, Author, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar
- Anatomy in Personal Injury Actions, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- California, 1973
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1973
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1987
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1992
Other Affiliations
- ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) (Former Chapter President)
- ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) (National Board Member)
- ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) (Chairman of the National ABOTA Civility and Professionalism Committee)
- ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates), 2018 - Present (Cal-ABOTA President)
- ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) (Cal-ABOTA Board Member)
- International Society of Barristers (Former National Membership Chair)
- International Society of Barristers (Former National Board Member)
- International Society of Barristers (Foundation Board Member)
- International Society of Barristers (President, ISOB Foundation 2020-Present)
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Current National Board Member)
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers (State Membership Chair: Northern California)
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Member of the National Membership Committee)
- American College of Trial Lawyers (Former Northern California Board Member)
- American College of Trial Lawyers (Former Northern California Chair)
- ABOTA Foundation (Trustee, Nationally Elected For a 3 Year Term)
Past Positions
- Abramson & Bianco, San Francisco, CA, Trial Attorney (Partner), 1975 - 1982
- Hoberg, Finger, Brown & Abramson, San Francisco, CA, Trial Attorney, 1973 - 1975
Fraternities and Sororities
- Sigma Chi
- Phi Beta Kappa
Fees
- Offers Free Initial Consultation
- Accepts Credit Cards
Office Info
Other Colleagues
- Partner since 199931 years of experienceBrain Injury, Construction, Medical Malpractice, Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Premises Liability, Product Liability, Wrongful Death
- Managing Partner17 years of experienceBrain Injury, Personal Injury, Construction, Product Liability, Aviation & Aerospace, Car Accidents, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice
Nearby Lawyers
- Insurance
- Medical Malpractice
- Car Accidents
- Social Security
- 0.5 mile away
- 0.4 mile away
- 1.5 miles away
- 0.5 mile away
- 0.8 mile away
- 0.5 mile away
- 0.5 mile away
The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.